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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2010 Feb 1.
Published in final edited form as: Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2009 Jan 20;9(1):24–30. doi: 10.1016/j.coph.2008.12.006

Fig. 2.

Fig. 2

Schematic representation of the main intrinsic connections of the basolateral (BLA) and central (CeA) nuclei of the amygdala and extrinsic projections from the medial frontal cortex (mFC) (layer V/VI) and hippocampus (CA1) pyramidal neurons to the BLA.

In socially isolated mice, the decrease in Allo biosynthesis in layer V/VI pyramidal glutamatergic neurons of the mFC and in pyramidal-like glutamatergic neurons of the BLA (indicated by Inline graphic) downregulates the inhibitory potency of GABAergic interneurons (indicated by Inline graphic) impinging on these pyramidal neurons. This Allo content decrease results in an increased excitatory output from BLA to the intercalated (ITC) neurons or to neurons of the CeA nucleus, which project to the hypothalamus (Hyp) and brain stem, enhancing fear and aggression (indicated by Inline graphic).

Inline graphic Pyramidal-like glutamatergic neurons expressing Allo

Inline graphic Pyramidal glutamatergic neurons expressing Allo

Inline graphic Inhibitory GABAergic interneurons

Inline graphic Intercalated (ITC) GABAergic neuron

Inline graphic Decreased Allo biosynthesis in mFC pyramidal and BLA pyramidal-like glutamatergic neurons

Modified from Sah and Westbrook [45].